The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-12

 was only that all these young people are talking about ghost stories, and they want you to tell them your owr strange experience. You must not bt vexed with them"
 "Vexed?" said MT. Marischal; "not in the least" But for a moment ol two he said no more, and even pretty spoiled Mrs. Snowdon looked little uneasy.
 "You shouldn't have persisted Nina," she whispered.
 Mir. Marischal must have had unu sually quick ears. He looked up and smiled.
 "I really don't mind telling you all there is to hear," he said. "At one time l had sort of dislike to men, tioning the story, for the sake of oth- CTS. The details would have led to its being recognized-and it might have been painful. But there is no one now living to whom it would matter-you know" he added, turning to his sis ter, "her husband is dead, too.o
 Lady Denholme shook her head.
 "No," she said, "I did not hear"
 "Yes," said her brother, ''I saw his death in the papers last year. He had married again, believe. There is not now, therefore, any reason why should not tell the story, if it will in- terest you," he went on, turning to the others. "And there is not very much to tell. Not worth making such a preamble about. It was-let me see yes, it must be nearly fifteen years ago."
 "Wait a moment, Uncle Paul." said Nina. "Yes, that's all right, Gladys. You and l will hold each others hands, and pinch hard if we get very frightened"
 "Thank you," Miss Lloyd replied. "On the whole l should prefer for you not to hold my hand"
 "But won't pinch you so as to hurt" said Nina reassuringly; "and it isn't as if we were in the, dark"
 "Shall l turn down the lamps?" asked Mir. Snowdon.
 "No, now exclaimed his wife.
 "There really is nothing frightening scarcely even 'creepy'-in my story at all" said MT. Marischal, half apol- ogetically. "You make me feel like an impostor."
 "Oh, no, Uncle Paul, don't say that. It is all my fault for interrupting, :" said Nina. "Now go on, please have Gladys hand all the same," she added, S0tt0 C0ee !. tits just as well to be prepared"
 "Well, then," began Mir. Marischal once more, "it must be nearly fifteen years ago. And had not seen her for fully ten years before that again! was not thinking of her in the least :: in sense l had really forgotten her !; she had quite gone out of my life that has always struck me as very curious point in the story" he added paranthetically.
 "Won't you tell us who she was, Uncle Paul?" asked Nina, half shyly.
 "Oh, yes, l was going to do SO. I am not skilled in story telling, you see. She was, at the time 1 first knew her-at the only time, indeed, that I knew her-a very sweet and attract i've girl, named Maud Bertram. She was very pretty-more than pretty, for she had remarkably regular fea- tures-her profile was always admired and tall and graceful figure. And she was bright and happy creature, too, that, perhaps, was almost her greatest charm. You will wonder-I see the question lowering ou your lips, Miss Lloyd, and on yours, too Mrs. Snowdon-why, if admired and liked her so much, I did not go fur ther. And 1 will tell you frankly that l did not because dared not. I had then no prospect of being able to marry for years to come, and l was not very young. Twas already nearly thirty, and Maud was quite ten years younger. l was wise enough and old enough to realize the situation thor oughly, and to be on my guard"
 "And Maud?" asked Mrs. Snowdon.
 "She was surrounded by admirers it seemed to me then that it would have been insufferable conceit to have even asked myself if it could matter to her. It was only in the light of after events that the possibility of my having been mistaken occurred to me.
 "And I don't even now see that could have acted otherwise" here Uncle Paul sighed little. "We were the best of friends. She knew that l admired her, and she seemed to take frank pleasure in its being so. l had always hoped that she really liked and trusted me as a friend, but no more. The last time I saw her was just before 1 started tor Portugal where l remained three years. When returned to London Maud had been married for two years, and had gone straight out to India on her marriage and except by some few friends who had known us both intimately I sell dom hears1 her rnantionod And +;r,x